Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-27

Governor and staff, and the Chief Marshal
and ADD PlS &shiie sfhiiliI' New hus.,,itv Council
Third TbirdLThe President sist T@'' professors and
students of the city and State colleges and
schools.
Fourth-The city civil societies.
Filth-The Odd Fellows, Masons ana
Knights and kindred societies.
Sixth-Distiuguished guests and Others
Seventh-Citizens.
After reaching the grand stand on Clta-
del Green, the various organizations TOOK
the places assigned them by the marshals
around the monument. The Grafton was
delivered by Secretary Lamar.
SECRETARY LAMAR's SPEECH.
Mr.. Lamar's tribute to the memory OF
John C.. Calhoun was very lengthy. 1t
was a mastery synopsis OF the life, cnar-
acter and works of one Of the grandest
of American statesmen and one OF the
truest and purest OF men.
The orator followed him through Con-
gIess and the United States Senate, as
Secretary of War and Vice President. His
public life began at the age of twenty
elS0l, Oh lnt eve VI INC N'h VI A-A~'
Hereiected alike, said Mr.. Lamar, the
dogma of tht sovereignty OF monarchles
and aristocracies on the one hand, and on
the other the shallow fiction OF the social
contract rs the foundation OF Government.
He asserted boldly that society and gov
ernment both were of Divine ordination;
that the Supreme Creator and Ruler OF all
had in his infinite wisdom assigned to
man the social and political state as the
best adapted to the development OF the
moral and intellectual faculties and
capacities with which he endowed him.
The fundamental principles of government
he found in the wants feelings
and tendencies OF man, wrought
there nv the hand of God
which, in their development, assumed the
attributes and functions Of formal govern
mentS. The external forms and Organiza-
tions designed to prevent the tendency OF
government to disorder and injustice,
called institutions, are the COntrivanccS OF
men, who are left to perfect by their reasan
and free will the government that the In
finite has ordained, just as he created the
material laws of the earth, and left man to
impress it in it's own personality. The
right TO prescribe these constitutions and
to cOerce society into submission to them
is sovereignty. That power in nation
which holds this supreme authority in the
last resort, from which there is no appeal
to higher power, is the sovereign power
of that nation. Where that supreme, alb
sOlute and ultimate power resides is a
question which has not only chal-
lenged the speculations OF philosophers
in the closet and statemen in the national
councils. but has also been debated on
bloody fields in arms. On this question
Mr.. Calhoun was, from principle, always
a Republican and an American Democrat.
He maintained that the people were the
legitimate source of all political power;
that governments ought to be created "by
them and for them;" that powers conferred
upon government are not surrendered but
delegated, and as such are held in trust
and not absolutely, and can be rightfully
exercised only in furtherance of the objects
for which they are delegated; and in order
guarantee the responsibility Of the rulers
to the ruled and to secure the control of
those electing over those elected, unlver-
sal suffrage is the primary and indispens-
able foundation Ofrepublican governments.
The speaker dwelt somewhat on Mr..
Calhoun S course in reference to the
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE, CIVIL SERVICE
and removal from Office. He said:
On the 9TH of February, 1885, he made
a report on the extent of Government pat
ronage which startled the country by its
revelations of the enormous extent to
which the abuses of the system had grown,
and the degenerating influences it was ex-
erCising alike upon the Government and
the character of the people. Animated and
acrimonious debates arose in the Senate
upon the facts stated in the report. In
maintenance Of the position assumed
therein Mr. Calhoun made speech which
is perhaps as applicable to the
present times as it was to
those in which it was delivered.
After showing how alarmingly the system
has grown he proceeded to demonstrate the
causes which produced it and which gave
to it its growth and its dangerous infu-
ences. At the head Of these causes he
placed ''the practice so greatly extended,
if not for the first time introduced, Of re-
moving from Office persons well qualified
and who HAD faithfully performed their
duty, in order to fill the places with those
who were recommended on the ground that
they belonged to the party in power.
In speaking of the extent of its growth he
stated that Washington in his eight years
of service had made but nine removals;
Madison but five, Monroe but ten, and
that be, whilst Secretary of War for more
than seven years, removed but two, and
that for cause.
''He said: So long as offices were con-
sidered as public trusts, to be conferred on
the honest, the faithful and capable, for
the common good. and not for the benefit
or gain of the incumbent or his party; and
so long as it was the practice Of the Gov
eminent to continue in Office those who
faithfully performed their duties, its pat
ronage, in point of fact, was limited to the
mere power of nominating to accidental
vacancies OF to newly created Offices, and
could, of course, exercise but a moderate
influence either over the body Of the COM
munity, or of the Officeholders themselves;
and when the practice was reversed, when
offices, instead Of being considered as pub
lie trusts, to be conferred on the deserv-
ing, were regarded as the spoils Of victory,
to be bestowed IS rewards for partisan
services without respect 10 merit;
when it cane TO be understood